Wallbanger

Such a fun movie, the perfect blend of steamy romance, laugh-out-loud humor, and characters with insane chemistry. From the very first scene, I was hooked! The banter, the tension, the slow burn... it all just works.

The lead actors completely nail their roles, bringing so much charm and personality to the story. The pacing was spot on, the comedic moments actually made me laugh out loud, and the romance had just the right amount of build-up to make it feel real and satisfying. Passionflix once again proves they know exactly how to bring beloved stories to life, staying true to the heart of the book while making it feel fresh and exciting on screen.

I read this book and absolutely loved it. When I found out they were making it a movie I was conflicted because books are generally better than the movie adaptation but watched it...was very sorely disappointed, the acting was smarmy and bad, bad casting choices throughout not like the characters at all so a major bummer. The male, my gosh trying to be sexy especially in the beginning was a cringey creepy turn off.

Come on Tosca you can do sooo much better, can't you?

If you like romance novels Wallbanger is hilarious, fun and satisfying, this movie/cast leaves a lot to be desired, not sure why the high ratings imho.

I DO however highly recommend the BOOK.

Well, I just got done watching Wallbanger (2024), dumb ass title for a movie, and it was fine. This is the first time I've watched a movie from Passionflix and it certainly will be the last time I watch anything from that streaming service ever again.

Positives for Wallbanger (2024): Kelli Berglund as the main protagonist gives a good performance and it's easily the best performance in the entire movie. Honestly, she's literally the only reason why I even bothered to watch this movie to begin with. I've been a fan since her Disney days, I'm especially a massive fan of Heels and I really hope it gets renewed for a third season on Netflix. Regardless, her presence in the movie is the only thing that kept me watching.

Mixed for Wallbanger (2024): While I did like seeing Kelli Berglund in this movie, she also feels completely out of place in this movie from this streaming service. For me personally, Kelli is one of those former Disney stars who should be ranked higher on the list of rising stars in Hollywood today, she's also way too gorgeous for this movie and I mean these statements in a good way. Then, you have Amadeus Serafini as Kelli Berglund's love interest in this movie for reasons that I will baffle me for the rest of my life. To be fair, he's not the worst boyfriend that I've seen in a movie or tv show, he's just very forgettable and boring. It also doesn't help that this guy was Kieran Wilcox in the Scream TV Series on MTV, you know the most obvious and lame excuse for a villain in the entire Scream Franchise. He's also the guy that tried and miserably failed to beat up John Cena and no I am not making that up at all.

Negatives for Wallbanger (2024): This movie feels like a discount version of a Rom-Com that you would find on Netflix. Also, I can't remember any of the side characters in this movie and I literally just got done watching the movie.

Overall, Wallbanger (2024) is a fine enough Rom-Com that you would find in the bargain bin with literally any other generic movie in any genre and it's a movie that will be immediately forgotten after watching it.

If one throws out all the hope and faces the fact that the movie is "bad", one can actually enjoy it. At least I did. To quickly list the main issues: the superficial dialogue writing and the awkward staging, which in turn gives the impression of inept acting (I'd argue that most actors in this film with better material would exhibit better talent), lacklustre general production like lighting, sound design, etc, and etc. Viewers will immediately see / feel that the movie is not top quality, however, I don't think the filmmakers in general were aspiring to win any awards with this project.

So, with the elephant out the room, we can discuss the good parts of the film. The ideas and themes displayed (as superficial as they were) are valid and needed in today's society. The main actors had extremely hot chemistry, perhaps, too hot at the very beginning, where the question wasn't if or when are they gonna bang, but rather why are they not yet banging, what's stopping them? The producers? And the actors tried so hard to work with what they've got script wise. Truly the two of them saved the whole thing for me - their relationship and communication was interesting and luring, hopefully from here on out their carriers will get only better. Oh, and Simon as a character is truly magnificent; written by a woman for women and definitely fictional.

Ngl, I am considering watching the movie again, I do so love to hate certain things.

Calling all romance lovers! This one's worth your time. Yes, it's an enemies-to-lovers story, but unlike many where the switch from hate to love feels rushed, this one takes its time. The gradual development of feelings between the characters feels genuine and gives the story its charm. You'll find yourself smiling at the playful vibes and rooting for the leads as the plot unfolds.

Now, not everything's perfect-there are a few moments where the direction could've been sharper (you'll know what I mean when you see them). But overall, it's way better than brushing it off as just another cheesy adult movie. Go ahead and add this gem to your list!